Let’s start with some of the hybrid vehicles currently available on the market. These are the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda Accord Hybrid. These are the top four hybrid cars available at dealerships right now.

There’s also the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h, the Toyota Highlander and the Mariner Hybrid.

The first consideration is “mileage”

The Honda Insight was built primarily to get the best mileage possible. Which makes it the leader in terms of gas mileage. Traditional manual transmission hybrids have EPA estimates of 60 mpg city and 66 mpg highway. However, the automatic versions are slightly lower at 57 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the highway.

The second option is the newer version of the Prius with 60 mpg city and 51 mpg highway. The reason city mpg is higher on these vehicles is because the vehicle can operate on battery power alone when at low speeds.

The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid is available with a manual transmission at 46 mpg city and 51 mpg highway, the automatic is approximately 48 mpg city and 47 mpg highway. The hybrid sedan is rated at 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Size does matter

Another point to take into account when purchasing a hybrid vehicle is the size. When hybrids were first introduced they only came in two sizes, but since then manufacturers have listened to their customers and are now responding to specific customer needs, which means there have now been improvements.

First, you need to look at how many people will be in the vehicle and what your typical load would be.

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a compact sedan. It has five seats and generally looks the same from the outside as a non-hybrid Civic. The interior is exactly the same, the only difference is that the truck is a little smaller because it has to accommodate the battery.

The 2000-2003 Prius models are 5-seat, compact capacity and have since been redesigned in 2004 and have now become a mid-range car. This larger edition also includes a hatchback.

The price

Below is a means of comparing currently available hybrid cars. It’s not a clear pricing table, but this will at least give you some indication.

– 2006 Toyota Prius, $21,2745
– 2006 Honda Insight, $19,330 manual transmission; $21,530 for automatic
– 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, $21,850
– 2007 Lexus GS450h, $54,900
– 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid, $25,900
– 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid, $30,140

For off-road:

– The 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid starts at $27,515 for the two-wheel drive version and $28,595 for the four-wheel drive version.
– Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid SUV (Summer 2006) $23,995.
– 2006 Lexus RX400h $49,060.
– 2006 Mariner Hybrid $29,840
– 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid $33,030 for the two-wheel drive; $34,430 for four-wheel drive.

The look

The final consideration is, of course, appearance.
You can choose a hybrid because it looks exactly like the non-hybrid model, or if you prefer, you can choose one that is completely different.

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